Meet The Teachers
The Hurley takes great pride in its teachers, all of whom bring valuable expertise, dedication, and a love of children. At the Hurley, teachers work in teams in many areas: by grade, by subject matter, and by area of focus. Hurley teachers view themselves as part of a learning community, and regularly share feedback, best practices, and teaching innovations.
Nancy McNeal
K0/K1
Ms. McNeal has worked at the Hurley since 2004 and strives every day to make a difference in the lives of the school’s youngest students. She is from Pennsylvania and attended Wheelock College of Education & Human Development and Lesley University. Ms. McNeal loves to make quilts! She has been making quilts and giving them away for 10 years and mainly uses beautiful batik fabric and intermediate patterns. Her other hobbies include jewelry making, cooking, and traveling to Hawaii.
Maritza Martinez-Rolon
K1
Ms. Martinez was born in Puerto Rico and has a bachelor's degree in elementary education from the State University of New York and a master's degree in English as a Second Language from the Universidad Interamericana in Puerto Rico. Her passion is teaching children how to read. Ms. Martinez is an Orton-Gillingham licensed reading specialist. Her hobbies include gardening and walking on the beach.
Meilin Chong
K2
Ms. Meilin has worked at the Hurley since 2020 and is from Lima, Peru and Salem, NH. She attended Wheelock College and the University of Pennsylvania and loves being a life-long learner in the education field. “Education gives me the privilege to influence and collaborate with children and their families in shaping their development.” Ms. Meilin is a good salsa/bachata dancer and loves to travel and explore cultures.
Mariana Sánchez
K2 Spanish
Ms. Mariana has worked at the Hurley since 2019 and loves teaching children to write. She believes children are the hope for our future and the planet, and looks forward to seeing her students’ extraordinary achievements. Ms. Mariana was born in Arizona, but raised in Sonora, México. She has a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education with a Bilingual Emphasis from the University of Arizona in Tucson, and also pursued a master's degree in Reading and Literacy at Boston College. Ms. Mariana is a fantastic storyteller who has received standing ovations from her students. Her hobbies include running and traveling.
Ingrid Morales
Instructional Coach, Grades K-5
Ms. Morales has worked at the Hurley since 2016 and is from Puerto Rico. She has a bachelor's degree from the University of Tampa and a master’s degree from Wheelock College. Teaching has been Ms. Morales’ calling since she was young and she loves teaching English and Spanish because being bilingual is special and powerful. Ms. Morales is excellent at organizing, giving hugs, and Salsa dancing. Her hobbies include yoga, journaling, walking, and getting together with friends.
Ana Soto
1st Grade
Ms. Soto has worked at the Hurley since 2014 and is from San José, Costa Rica. She has a bachelor’s degree from Northeastern University and a master’s degree from Simmons College. Ms. Soto works closely with each student to see their own potential and to nurture their love for learning. Ms. Soto makes excellent Tres Leches Cake, and will likely beat you in word games like crosswords, scrabble, and letter tiles. Her hobbies are family time, running long distances, biking, yoga, and reading.
Diana Colón
1st Grade
Ms. Colón has worked at the Hurley since 2007 and is from Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. She has a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and Latin American Studies from Boston College and a master’s degree in education from Boston University. She especially loves teaching because of the smiles, hugs, and high fives. Ms. Colon can juggle and is really good at scaring people. She also likes running, going to playgrounds with her family, DJing, and cooking.
Erin Abbott
2nd Grade English
Ms. Abbott has worked at the Hurley since 2010 and grew up in Walpole, MA. She has a bachelor’s degree from Loyola University Chicago and a master’s degree from Lesley University. She has wanted to be an elementary school teacher since high school and loves working with children. Ms. Abbott is an excellent skier and loves animals. Her hobbies include going for walks, spending time with friends and family, and taking her two daughters on fun adventures (like visiting farms).
Erica Moen
2nd Grade Spanish
Ms. Moen has a bachelor’s degree from Wellesley College and a master’s degree in education from Boston College. Her favorite subject to teach is math. Ms. Moen learned Spanish as an adult, when living in Venezuela.
Diane Bourbeau
2nd Grade Paraprofessional
Ms. Bourbeau has worked at the Hurley since 2007 and is from East Longmeadow, MA. She has a bachelor’s degree from Lasell College and is a diehard Red Sox fan. Ms. Bourbeau has played softball her whole life and also plays women's football. She loves to sing and is the lead singer in a band.
Leah Kaye
3rd Grade Spanish
Ms. Kaye has worked at the Hurley since 2019 and is from Maryland. She has a bachelor’s degree from Boston College and will earn her master's degree from B.C. in 2023. Making learning fun and engaging is a priority in Ms. Kaye’s classroom. She is an avid baker and loves trying out new recipes and making cakes and desserts for special occasions. Ms. Kaye is the head coach of the Women's Club Ultimate Frisbee team at Boston College.
Beth Beloff
3rd Grade English
“Mrs. B” has worked at the Hurley since 2009 and is from Long Island, New York. She has a bachelor's degree from the University of Maryland, College Park and a master’s degree from the University of Rhode Island. Mrs. B loves teaching new information that makes her students excited to learn and exposes them to the world. Mrs. B is a great "hype man;" she is a personal cheerleader to every student.Her hobbies include family time and challenging herself at Crossfit.
Jennifer Muhammad
4th Grade
I began teaching 4th grade at the Hurley in 2001. I teach reading, writing, math, and social studies in English. I graduated from UMass Amherst in 2000 with a sociology degree and received my graduate degree from Tufts in education. I’m most passionate about teaching writing, but I love teaching all subjects because it allows me to get to know students in different ways. Fun fact: my husband proposed to me in my classroom, room 201, the last day before winter vacation in 2009...in front of all of my students and a crowd of Hurley onlookers that had accumulated as word spread like wildfire. A parent showed up that afternoon with a bottle of champagne! The Hurley is my second home.
Louis Diaz
4th Grade Spanish
Maria “Margot” Johnson
5th Grade
Ms. Margot has worked at the Hurley since 2009 and was born in Costa Rica, but grew up in the United States. She has a bachelor's degree from Northeastern University and a master’s degree from Simmons College. Ms. Margot creates a learning space for her students that feels safe, comfortable, and like a second home. She is skilled at creative projects that involve crafting and designing. Her hobbies include reading, going for walks, spending time with family and friends, and traveling.
Claudia Gomez
5th Grade
Ms. Gomez has been with the Hurley since 2021 and is from Chicago, IL. She is half Salvadoran and half Mexican. She earned his bachelor's degree from Monmouth College and her Master's degree from the University of Colorado Denver. Ms. Gomez loves teaching children mainly because she wants to instill in them perseverance when faced with academic challenges, she also has a passion for instilling self-esteem in her students with the purpose of guiding them to be the future leaders of our community. Ms. Gómez is very good at raising one eyebrow at a time, and enjoys playing soccer and dancing.
Helen Sullivan
6th grade, ELA/Social Studies
Ms. Sullivan has worked at the Hurley since 2014. She has a bachelor's degree from Connecticut College and a master’s degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Ms. Sullivan has always enjoyed working with children and especially enjoys teaching middle schoolers. She is an all-around athlete and enjoys reading, biking, hiking, and traveling.
Lindsay Thornquist
6th Grade
Rebecca Poswolsky
7th and 8th grade Humanities
“Ms. P” has worked at the Hurley since 2017 and has a bachelor's degree from UMASS Amherst and a master’s degree from Lesley University, as well as a Teaching Credential from San Francisco State University. Ms. P enjoys learning and exploring with her students, especially in such a dynamic place as Boston. Ms. P is an avid bike rider and has traveled the country many times. She also loves studying history and reading and thinking critically about how to create a more just society.
Wilma Marrero Crespo
7th and 8th Grade
Ms. Marrero-Crespo has worked at the Hurley since 2014 and is a Bostonian with a Puerto Rican heritage. She finished high school in Boston, but studied primarily in Puerto Rico. Ms. Marrero-Crespo is very good at integrating technology in the classroom. Her hobbies include traveling and cruising, spending time with her grandkids, and studying and teaching the Bible.
Maria Cook
STEM, Grades K-3
Ms. Cook has worked at the Hurley since 2021 and is from Colombia. She holds degrees from Bridgewater State University and Northeastern University. Ms. Cook instills in her students a love of learning, and includes multiple opportunities for social and experiential learning in her teaching, so she can guide and encourage students to become independent thinkers and problem solvers. Her special skills are math and cooking, and she enjoys going for walks and spending time with family and friends.
Matthew McLaughlin
Art, Grades K-8
“Mr. Mac” has worked at the Hurley since 2015 and is from Weymouth, MA. He attended Wheelock College and Bridgewater State University. Mr. Mac never wanted to leave the art room when he was a student and is very skilled at making art. He likes to spend his free time reading comics, watching movies, and drawing with his kids.
Brian Gaines
Science 3rd-6th
Mr. Gaines has worked at the Hurley since 2017 and was born and raised in Boston. He has a bachelor's degree from Boston University and a master’s degree from UMASS Boston. Mr. Gaines enjoys playing golf, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.
Lawrence Muhammad
Physical Education/Gym
Mr. Muhammad is from Brockton, MA and has a bachelor’s degree from UMass Amherst. He works as a physical education teacher because he loves sports and fitness, and loves working with children. Mr. Muhammad is surprisingly good at Legos and enjoys riding his motorcycle, camping, and hiking with his dog.
Nurt Villani
Music
Ms. Villani has worked at the Hurley since 2021 and is from Colombia. She studied at the Universidad del Cauca in her hometown and later studied choral conducting in Paris, France at the Conservatoire National Superieur. Ms. Villani also studied music pedagogy and is trained in the Willems, Kodaly, and Dalcroze methods. She brings joy to her students through music and provides great early musical experiences so they feel inspired. Ms. Villani loves to sing and conduct choirs, but also enjoys swimming visiting Colombia, and traveling.
Shannon Valencia
Special Education
Ms. Valencia has worked at the Hurley since 2008 and is from California. She has a bachelor's degree from Suffolk University and a master’s degree from Lesley University. Ms. Valencia loves being an educator because of the positive impacts she has on her students' lives. She makes delicious banana bread, and her hobbies include reading, walking her dog, and spending time with her son.
Noreen Hassan
Teacher Resources
Ms. Hassan has a bachelor’s degree from Wheaton College and a Master of Arts degree from Emerson College, as well as a Master of Education from UMASS Boston. She loves math and has always looked for creative ways to integrate the arts across all subjects. Ms. Hassan loves to sing and dance and enjoys spending time with her magician husband and her daughter.
Chanel Scott, BSN, RN
School Nurse
Ms. Scott has worked at the Hurley since 2014 and is from Boston, MA. She is a registered nurse and has a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Northeastern University. Ms. Scott loves working with children and their families on a community level. She is a true foodie who loves eating, and she enjoys spending time with her family.
Karen Gonzalez
Director of School Culture and Climate
Ms. Karen has worked at the Hurley since 2012 and was born in El Salvador. She is a graduate of Boston Public Schools and has a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from UMass Boston. Ms. Karen’s special skill is planning events with a creative theme. She enjoys hanging out with family and friends and building miniature homes in her quiet time. Ms. Karen loves owls and has a growing collection of them (not real ones!) in her office.
Mayra Alejandra Gende
Instructional Coach, Grades 6-8
Ms. Gende has worked at the Hurley since 2021 and is from Barinas, Venezuela. She attended UMass Boston, Lesley University, and Harvard Graduate School of Education. Ms. Gende believes that all students deserve an amazing educational experience regardless of their identity and zip code. Ms. Gende’s skill is making pottery; she also enjoys exercising, listening to podcasts, reading, and gardening.
Luiza Puzzitiello
Social Worker
Ms. Puzzitiello has worked at the Hurley since 2021 and was born and raised in Brazil. She has a bachelor’s degree from Miami University (in Ohio) and a master’s degree in social work from Loyola University. Her lifelong passion has been to work in education and be an integral part of students' socio-emotional growth. Ms. Ribeiro enjoys spending time with family and friends, listening to music, and traveling.
Framny Nova Montes de Oca
Support Staff
Ms. Nova has worked at the Hurley since 2021 and is from the Dominican Republic, where she studied at the Carmen Celia Balaguer school. She enjoys working with children and helping them develop and grow into kind and successful humans. Her special skill is cooking and she enjoys spending time with her family and children.
Paola Gaona Salamanca
Support Staff
Ms. Gaona Salamanca, or as the students call her, Ms. Pao, has worked at the Hurley since 2020 and was born in Colombia. She is a proud BPS alumni who attended the Rafael Hernandez School and Boston Latin Academy. During her years at BPS, she witnessed the significance of local leadership in the community and the difference having bilingual teachers that reflected her family and community can make. Her special skill is dancing, and she also enjoys baking, sewing, watching anime, and gardening.
